Friday (30/8/2024) Notes From The Quran : SUNNATULLAH OR THE SUNNAH OF ALLAH

Non Muslims can skip this post. Thank you. 

Today we will discuss the phrase  sunnatullah or   سُنَّةَ اللّٰهِ   which is mentioned a few times in the Quran. 

Sunnatullah means the Sunnah of Allah. 
Sunnah means the practise or a way of doing things. 
Sunnatullah or the sunnah of Allah refers to Allah's way of or practises in doing things.

Here are some verses which mention   sunnatullah or   سُنَّةَ اللّٰهِ

Surah 33:38   مَا كَانَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ مِنْ حَرَجٍ فِيْمَا فَرَضَ اللّٰهُ لَهٗۗ سُنَّةَ اللّٰهِ فِى الَّذِيْنَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلُۗ وَكَانَ اَمْرُ اللّٰهِ قَدَرًا مَّقْدُوْرًاۙ

There can be no hardship on the Nabi in (upholding) what Allah has indicated to him. The sunnah of Allah  سُنَّةَ اللّٰهِ  (from) amongst those who have passed before you. And the command of Allah is a decree determined.

 

Surah 33:62      سُنَّةَ ٱللَّهِ فِي ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوۡاْ مِن قَبۡلُۖ وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ ٱللَّهِ تَبۡدِيلٗا
 

(The) sunnah of Allah سُنَّةَ ٱللَّهِ amongst those who have passed before you. No change wilt thou find in the sunnah of Allah لِسُنَّةِ ٱللَّهِ

NOTE : The sunnatullah or sunnah of Allah does not change. It remains the same. 

Surah 35:43    ٱسۡتِكۡبَارٗا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَكۡرَ ٱلسَّيِّيِٕۚ وَلَا يَحِيقُ ٱلۡمَكۡرُ ٱلسَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهۡلِهِۦۚ فَهَلۡ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا سُنَّتَ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَۚ فَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ ٱللَّهِ تَبۡدِيلٗاۖ وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّتِ ٱللَّهِ تَحۡوِيلًا 

On account of their arrogance in the land and their plotting of Evil, but the plotting of Evil will (backfire) on them. So are they looking for the way the ancients were dealt with? But no change wilt thou find in the sunnah of Allah لِسُنَّتِ ٱللَّهِ .  No turning away wilt thou find in the sunnah of Allah لِسُنَّتِ ٱللَّهِ .
 

AGAIN NOTE : The sunnatullah or sunnah of Allah does not change. It remains the same. 

 

Surah 40:85     فَلَمۡ يَكُ يَنفَعُهُمۡ إِيمَٰنُهُمۡ لَمَّا رَأَوۡاْ بَأۡسَنَاۖ سُنَّتَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِي قَدۡ خَلَتۡ فِي عِبَادِهِۦۖ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ

Their professing the Faith (only) when they saw Our Punishment was not going to profit them. (Such has been) the Sunnah of Allah  سُنَّتَ ٱللَّهِ  amongst His Servants who have gone before. And thus were ruined the disbelievers !
 

 

Surah  48:23     سُنَّةَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِي قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِن قَبۡلُۖ وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ ٱللَّهِ تَبۡدِيلٗا     

(Such has been) the sunnah of Allah سُنَّةَ ٱللَّهِ in the past: no change wilt thou find in the sunnah of Allah  سُنَّةَ ٱللَّهِ

 

Conclusion :  There is no change in the Sunnah of Allah from before until now. There is a predictability, a constant, a certainty in the practises of Allah swt.  Allah swt does not change things suddenly and haphazardly after having put the earth and the universe in order.

The sunnah of Allah with regards to animals like the African elephants or Asian elephants is that the elephants require a certain ecosystem, they require a certain habitat with suitable plants and water for the elephants sustenance. All this is part of the sunnatullah or how Allah swt has determined life with regards to the elephants.

Now imagine the most unlikely situation where one elephant suddenly sprouts an extra pair of legs and becomes a six legged behemoth that can run at 60 mph. That would be completely different from the way Allah swt has designed elephants. It would be an aberration.  Imagine the chaos that could erupt among other elephants and other animals if suddenly a four ton elephant can race at 60 mph. Hence it is an unlikely scenario. That will not happen. 

  وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ ٱللَّهِ تَبۡدِيلٗا

 which means  " and no change wilt thou find in the sunnah of Allah ".  

OSTARD SEKS - SPESIS PEMANGSA MAKIN MENGGANAS

 

 

KLIK  DI SINI

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

BOOST IMMUNITY

 

Put simply, it is your immune system’s job to defend your body against illness and disease. The complex system is made up of cells in your skin, blood, bone marrow, tissues, and organs that — when working the way they should — protect your body against potentially harmful pathogens (like bacteria and viruses), and limit damage from noninfectious agents (like sunburn or cancer),

To best protect your body from harm, every component of your immune system needs to perform exactly according to plan. The best way you can ensure that happens is to practice the good-for-you behaviors every day that your immune system runs on.

Eat a Healthy Diet

The nutrients you get from food — in particular, plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices -are essential to keeping your immune system functioning properly. Many plant-based foods also have antiviral and antimicrobial properties, which help us fight off infection.

For example, research shows that spices like clove, oregano, thyme, cinnamon, and turmeric contain antiviral and antimicrobial properties that prevent the growth of food-spoiling bacteria bacillus subtilis and pseudomonas fluorescens, harmful fungi like aspergillus flavus, and antibiotic-resistant microorganisms like staphylococcus aureus.

Furthermore, the zinc, folate, iron, selenium, copper, and vitamins A, C, E, B6, and B12 you get from the food you eat are the nutrients your immune system needs to do its job. Each one plays a unique role in supporting immune function.

Research suggests, for example, that vitamin C deficiency may increase the likelihood of infection. Our bodies do not produce this essential, water-soluble vitamin on their own, so we need to get it through foods (such as citrus fruits, kiwi, and several cruciferous vegetables). You can get 95 milligrams (mg), or 106 percent of the daily vitamin C requirement if you snack on a half-cup of red pepper.

Protein is also critical for immune health. The amino acids in protein help build and maintain immune cells, and skimping on this macronutrient may lower your body’s ability to fight infections.

When it comes to a diet that supports good immune health, focus on incorporating more plants and plant-based foods. Add fruits and vegetables to soups and stews, smoothies, and salads, or eat them as snacks. Carrots, broccoli, spinach, red bell peppers, apricots, citrus fruits (such as oranges, grapefruit, tangerines), and strawberries are all great sources of vitamins A and C, while seeds and nuts will provide protein, vitamin E and zinc.

Additional sources of protein and zinc include seafood, lean meat, and poultry.

Keep Stress Under Control

Long-term stress leads to chronically elevated levels of the steroidal hormone, cortisol. The body relies on hormones like cortisol during short-term bouts of stress (when your body goes into “fight-or-flight” response); cortisol has a beneficial effect of actually preventing the immune system from responding before the stressful event is over (so your body can react to the immediate stress). But when cortisol levels are constantly high, it essentially blocks the immune system from kicking into gear and doing its job to protect the body against potential threats from germs like viruses and bacteria.

There are many effective stress-reduction techniques; the key is to find what works for you. Meditation, journaling, and any activities that you enjoy (such as fishing, playing golf, or drawing) are recommended. Try to do at least one stress-reducing activity every day. If you are short for time, then start small. Set aside five minutes at some point each day for fun and increase it when you can.

Get Plenty of Good Quality Sleep

Your body heals and regenerates while you sleep, making adequate sleep critical for a healthy immune response.

More specifically, sleep is a time when your body produces and distributes key immune cells like cytokines (a type of protein that can either fight or promote inflammation), T cells (a type of white blood cell that regulates immune response), and interleukin 12 (a pro-inflammatory cytokine).

When you do not get enough sleep, your immune system may not do these things as well, making it less able to defend your body against harmful invaders and making you more likely to get sick.

Sleep deprivation also elevates cortisol levels, which of course is also not good for the immune function. Our immune system wears down as a result, and we tend to have lower reserves to fight off or recover from illness.

All adults must get at least seven hours of sleep per night to optimize health. To ensure you get quality sleep, prioritize good sleep hygiene: turn off the electronics at least two to three hours before bed, and avoid violent or stressful books or conversations.

Exercise Regularly (Outdoors, When Possible)

Regular exercise lowers your risk of developing chronic diseases (like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease), as well as viral and bacterial infections.

Exercise also increases the release of endorphins (a group of hormones that reduce pain and create feelings of pleasure) making it a great way to manage stress. “Since stress negatively impacts our immune system, this is another way exercise can improve immune response.

While there is some evidence that very long or intense exercise sessions may suppress the immune system, making you more susceptible to illness and infection in the hours immediately after your workout; this evidence is highly questionable. And there is a wealth of epidemiological evidence (studies that followed human behavior and outcomes) showing that people who are more active overall tend to have lower incidences of both acute illnesses (like infections) and chronic ones (like cancer and type 2 diabetes). Studies that have looked at how exercise affects the body on a cellular level suggest that bouts of physical activity may make your immune system more vigilant by distributing immune cells throughout your body to look for damaged or infected cells.

Adults should be getting at least 150 minutes (two and a half hours) of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (like walking, jogging, or cycling) or 75 minutes (one hour and 15 minutes) of high-intensity aerobic exercise (like running) every week. You should also be doing strength training at least twice a week. Longer physical activities have been found to be linked to even more health benefits, so aim high.

For even more immune system benefits, outdoor exercises are highly recommended. Spending time in nature has been shown to support mood, lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and support immune system health.

Sunshine also boosts vitamin D in the body, which plays a key role in immune health, too.

When It Comes to Alcohol, Practice Moderation

Drinking high amounts of alcohol is associated with a range of negative health effects, including lowered immune function. When you drink high amounts of alcohol, your body is too busy trying to detoxify your system to bother with the normal immune system function.

High levels of alcohol consumption can weaken your body’s ability to fight infection and slow down your recovery time. As a result, people who drink high amounts of alcohol face a greater likelihood of pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, alcoholic liver disease, and certain cancers.

If you do not already drink, do not start! If you drink occasionally, limit your alcohol consumption to one drink (equivalent to a 4-ounce glass of wine) per day if you are a woman, and two drinks per day if you are a man.

Don’t Smoke Cigarettes

Like alcohol, cigarette smoking can also affect immune health.

In particular, the chemicals released by cigarette smoke — carbon monoxide, nicotine, nitrogen oxides, and cadmium — can interfere with the growth and function of immune cells, like cytokines, T cells, and B cells.

Smoking also worsens viral and bacterial infections (especially those of the lungs, like pneumonia, flu, and tuberculosis), post-surgical infections, and rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the joints).

Don’t smoke! And avoid secondhand smoke whenever possible.

If you currently smoke, there are many resources available to help you kick your habit, including counseling, nicotine replacement products, prescription non-nicotine medications, and behavioral therapy.

Keep Symptoms of Chronic Conditions Under Control

Chronic conditions like asthma, heart disease, and diabetes can affect the immune system and increase the risk of infections.

For example, when people with type-2 diabetes do not manage their blood sugar properly, this can create a chronic, low-grade inflammatory response that weakens the body’s defense system.

 As usual, we remind you to take your Memo Plus Gold daily. It will help to keep you alert and mentally sharp. For more information or to order for Memo Plus Gold, please visit : https://oze.my.

RIOTS IN EUROPE : AYAAN HIRSI ALI WAS SO RIGHT ABOUT VIOLENT MUSLIMS

 As you are reading this the Muslim and anti-Muslim riots in the UK are still ongoing. They have not gone away yet. The new British PM, "two-tier Keir" is facing much criticism over his poor handling of the riots.

Below here is a short nine minute video featuring AYAAN HIRSI ALI - the former Somali woman who left Islam, became an atheist and has now adopted christianity as her faith. These have been some of the "ma'alim fil tareeq, or milestones"   in her life.

 

For years Ayaan has been warning the world and the west in particular about violent, political Islam.  In 2006 she wrote her masterpiece memoir 'Infidel' which was a best seller. That was the same year I wrote my book 'Malaysia And The Club of Doom - The Collapse of the Islamic Countries' which became a best seller here in Malaysia.

Then five years later in 2011 the Arab Spring happened which saw the collapse of Arab societies. This collapse has not slowed down. The appearance of the insane ISIS (circa 2013) completely vindicated Ayaan's warnings of the violence and insanity of political Islam.

Her warnings about Europe facing the threat of street mobs and violence is now visible in the UK and elsewhere in Europe. Actually it is getting worse. 

I believe there are simple reasons why these violent Islamists see violence as an acceptable recourse or a good solution to settling differences. 

For centuries the religious people have been teaching that violence is ok and good to "enforce" religious beliefs. The biggest example of this 'resorting to violence' is the death penalty for apostasy. Under sharia, a person who is deemed an apostate can be sentenced to death.

Proponents of this 'death for apostates' say that the sentence of death has to go through "due process" by the state authorities. But what if there is no 'state' available or involved?

The Boko Haram enforces its own sharia punishments in Nigeria. They are a rag tag bunch of uneducated, cattle thieves. They had no authority of the state.

Some years ago there was a wahabi terror guru called Bangla Bhai who enforced strict sharia punishments in some villages in Bangladesh. There was no state.

Until they were wiped out, the ISIS terror outfit enforced their own version of sharia punishments (cutting hands, chopping heads by the roadside). They were not a state by any measure.

But this is exactly the point. The ISIS, Boko Haram and other terror groups can argue quite convincingly that what they are doing is not wrong. The fact that they do not have their own government or their own state territory does not mean that what they are doing is wrong. They are simply following the sharia. 

In their Friday sermons they do not say that 'We need to have our own state and form our own government first before we can impose sharia punishments'.

They just say, 'Apostates must be killed'. Full stop.

And this is also exactly what they see in their own countries. Almost each and every Islamic country in the world (including Malaysia) criminalises religious belief. If you do not follow the orthodoxy of the government in power then you can be punished as a criminal.

Only the degree of the punishment varies. In Malaysia they dont kill the apostates but n'theless apostates can be jailed three years, fined RM5,000 and/or given six strokes of the rotan. (Pas' RUU355 wants to increase this to 30 years jail, RM100,000 fine and 100 strokes of the rotan).

But what message does this send out throughout the Islamic societies?  The message that is sent out is that it is good to use force and violence to enforce religious orthodoxy. If you do not follow the orthodoxy of the ruling government then force and violence will be used against you.

So lets say Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan arrest ISIS terrorists for chopping the heads of apostates (like Ayaan Hirsi Ali). The ISIS terrorists will simply tell the government in power, 'But you do the same thing. How come when you kill apostates it is good but when we kill the same apostates it is bad ?' We dont care about your due process or your rule of law. We are simply following sharia.'

Dont be surprised if one day there will be similar crazy, violent, jihadi groups enforcing their own mob violence in Malaysia. 

They will say the same thing. The laws of Malaysia allow the use of force and violence against unorthodox religious belief.  We are also doing the same thing. 

I have also pointed out many times before, that in the Quran there is absolutely no punishment of any sort for apostasy. 

The solution : All Islamic countries should not criminalise religious beliefs. The use of state sanctioned force and violence to enforce religious orthodoxy should be abolished.

 The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.  

A PRIMER ON THE BALOCHISTAN CONFLICT

 This is Indian journalist Shekhar Gupta who runs the very informative YouTube  channel The Print. They are top notch on news analysis about Afghanistan, Indo-Pak, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan etc.

This video is another analysis of the present rebellion in Balochistan (in Pakistan). I believe Balochistan is going to be in the news more often. It has serious implications for Pakistan. Shekar gives a quick history of the conflict - going back to the first Balochistan-Pakistan War of 1948. That was 76 years ago.  Things are now heating up.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

ORANG MELAYU MESTI BACA : RUU KAFIR, NEGARA KAFIR JATUH HUKUMAN 1MDB

 Sila baca ulasan saya di bawah. Rupanya negara kafir Switzerland, dengan Rang Undang2 (RUU) kafir mereka telah jatuhkan hukuman penjara atas dua orang penjenayah yang terlibat menipu duit rakyat Malaysia sebanyak RM7.8 Billion itu. 

Mereka tidak diberi diskaun 50% tempoh penjara, tidak diberi pengampunan Maharaja Switzerland ataupun dicadangkan mereka boleh menjalankan hukuman penjara di rumah banglo mereka.

Tetapi itulah masalah besar negara kafir dengan RUU kafir mereka. Mereka gemar dan gumbira untuk menghukum orang yang terlibat jenayah - terutama sekali jenayah besar seperti mencuri berbillion Ringgit duit rakyat negara asing yang terletak beribu kilometer jauh di benua lain.

Ini beritanya :

 

• Switzerland (Aug 28): Court convicts 2 execs US$1.8b (RM7.8b) 1MDB fraud
• Patrick Mahony, Tarek Obaid set up fraud JV PetroSaudi
• persuaded 1MDB's board (who had no brains) into fraud in 2009 
• Obaid sapu US$805 million, Mahony sapu US$37 million.
• Obaid kena seven years prison, Mahony kena six years
• Initially sapu US$1b from 1MDB 
• accused sapu US$830m Islamic loan from 1MDB between 2010 - 2011 
• Sept 2009 - July 2015 accused open bank accounts in Swiss to launder millions
• US$4.5 billion siphoned away from 1MDB beginning 2009
• implicating Najib, Goldman Sachs staff and high-level officials elsewhere.

MY COMMENTS:

Cerita 1MDB ini belum selesai dan TIDAK AKAN SELESAI sebab orang Melayu bersubahat "tidak mahu ambil tahu"  BERAPA RAMAI ORANG YANG TERLIBAT SEBENARNYA.

Orang Melayu sanggup dengar tuduhan bodoh (mahkamah sudah buang kes) stokin bertulisan tetapi malas mengira berapa kepala yang terlibat semua sekali dalam kes penipuan 1MDB ini. 

Berita atas berkata penyamun 1MDB persuaded 1MDB's board  untuk luluskan duit sebanyak RM7.8 billion itu.

Kita semua tahu hanya seorang saja ahli lembaga pengarah 1MDB (Chairman pada waktu itu - yang bekas Felda dan juga CEO atau Chairman Sime Darby) telah meletak jawatan sejak awal lagi apabila beliau boleh bau ikan busuk dalam urusan 1MDB.

'Ex-1MDB chairman resigned as felt ‘something wrong’ was happening, suspected Najib involved in US$700m payout against board’s orders.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 — Tan Sri .. today said he had resigned as chairman of 1MDB in 2009 as a sign of protest, following his suspicions that “something wrong” was going on at the Finance Ministry-owned company'.

Tetapi bagaimana pula ahli Lembaga Pengarah yang lain? Mereka turut subahat. Because walaupun Chairman sendiri resign pada 2009, mereka kekal lagi sebagai Pengarah dan masih "luluskan" segala penipuan dalam urusan 1MDB.

Penipuan 1MDB itu berlaku mulai tahun 2009 sehingga tahun 2015. ENAM TAHUN !!

Orang Melayu - please ambil tahu ok.

Berpuluh orang ahli lembaga pengarah pelbagai syarikat Kerajaan lain dan bank tempatan yang terlibat urusan 1MDB.   Semuanya terlibat selama ENAM TAHUN itu.

Bank Negara sepatutnya boleh kesan ada benda yang tidak betul sebab duit rakyat berbillion Ringgit lolos dibawa lari keluar negara. 

Cuba fikir Tuan-Tuan, kita rakyat biasa pula perlu isi borang bank dengan segala butiran detailnya untuk kirim seribu Ringgit saja ke Indonesia. Tetapi penipu 1MDB pula boleh lolos berbillion Ringgit keluar negara tanpa sebarang soal siasat Bank Negara?

Dalam 15 tahun yang lepas ini kita juga telah baca atau dengar ramai nama orang ternama yang terlibat penipuan 1MDB. 

Court: Bank Negara in the dark as ---bank failed to report suspicious transactions.  ..former Bank Negara governor pinned the blame for many of the illicit banking transactions involving 1MDB on the bank’s failure to conduct due diligence of its clients’ accounts — principally the accounts of former prime minister — and to alert the central bank to suspicious transactions or deposits entering his bank accounts. The accounts were opened in 2011. . "

Contohnya sebuah bank tempatan telah dikenakan denda RM59 Juta oleh Bank Negara tetapi hanya selepas duit 1MDB itu sudah hilang. Too late. The horses have bolted the barn. Kuda sudah terlepas lari dari kandangnya. 

 

Kita rakyat biasa pula kalau tidak lengkap isi borang di bank tadi, duit kita RM1,000 TIDAK AKAN DIKIRIM ke Indonesia. Bank akan kata 'Sorry your information not complete'. 

Habis apakah information kepala bapak yang boleh begitu complete yang membolehkan  penyamun 1MDB kirim RM7.8 billion duit rakyat terbang melayang keluar negara? No questions were asked?

Dan yang aneh lagi, kenapa pula tidak ada pegawai tinggi bank yang terlibat itu turut didakwa di mahkamah? What happened to BAFIA (Banking and Financial Institutions Act) yang khususnya sasarkan pegawai bank yang kecundang?

Tuan-Tuan orang Melayu, you cannot ignore all these subahat people. Kenapa Tuan-Tuan hanya tunggu alasan (waiting for an excuse) untuk TIDAK DIKENAKAN TINDAKAN ke atas supporting actors atau watak-watak sokongan, yang semuanya terlibat menipu duit kita? Makanlah roti telur lebih sikit. Suruh mamak itu masukkan dua biji telur dalam satu roti.

Saya harap pada masa yang akan datang akan ada penulis Melayu yang akan menulis buku yang ceritakan dengan jelas BUKAN PASAL seorang saja perdana menteri itu yang telah dipenjarakan tetapi senaraikan berpuluhan lagi individu yang terlibat pencurian 1MDB yang terlepas sebarang hukuman penjara.

Bila si Kutty kata Melayu malas, Melayu pelupa of course ramai orang Melayu tak suka dengar mulut celupar dia. But there were others diligently noting down what he was saying. Melayu malas, Melayu pelupa.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

THURSDAY JOKES - 227

 

Nexus Karambrunie Beach, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Bill, an avid golfer, contacts a "Medium" and asks if there is a golf course in Heaven.
The Medium says that his request is a big order, but he will try and find out and get back to him in a few days.
After several days go by, Bill finally gets a call from the Medium.
"Well," said Bill, "What did you find out?"
"I've got good news and bad news for you," said the Medium.
"OK, what's the good news?" Bill exclaimed.
"Well, there is a beautiful 36-hole golf course in Heaven, and you'll have 24-hour access with your own personal caddy," blurted out the Medium!!
"And the bad news?" asked Bill.
"You're due to tee-off this Sunday at around 10:30 in the morning," the Medium said!

 

A grasshopper walks into a bar. The bartender, Steve laughs and says, "Hey, we have a drink named after you!"
The grasshopper looks at the bartender, with a look of extreme confusion on his face, and asked, "Do you have a drink called Steve?"

 

During his physical examination, the doctor asked the patient about his daily activity level.
He described a typical day of his in this way: 'Well, yesterday afternoon, I waded along the edge of a lake, drank eight beers, escaped from wild dogs in the heavy brush, jumped away from an aggressive rattlesnake, marched up and down several rocky hills, stood in a patch of poison ivy, crawled out of quicksand and took four leaks behind some big trees.'

Inspired by the story, the doctor said, 'You must be one hell of an outdoors man!' 'NAH,' he replied, 'I'm just a shitty golfer.'

 

What happened when a faucet, a tomato, and some lettuce ran a race together?

The lettuce was ahead, the faucet was running, and the tomato was trying to ketchup!

 

A blind man was describing his favourite sport, parachuting. When asked how this was accomplished, he said that things were all done for him:
"I am placed in the door and told when to jump"
"My hand is placed on my release ring for me, and out I go"
"But how do you know when you are going to land?" he was asked.
"I have a very keen sense of smell and I can smell the trees and grass when I am 300 feet from the ground" he answered.
"But how do you know when to lift your legs for the final arrival on the ground?" he was again asked.
He quickly answered "Oh, the dog's leash goes slack".

 

I was reading this article the other day, and it said, The perfect way to spice up your love life is to make love in a car wash.

Let me tell you guys from my experience - no, it is not. It's also the perfect way to ruin a church fundraiser!

 

A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument!

 

A young ventriloquist is touring Norway and puts on a show in a small fishing town. With his dummy on his knee, he starts going through his usual dumb blonde jokes.
Suddenly, a blonde woman in the fourth row stands on her chair and starts shouting, 'I've heard enough of your stupid blonde jokes. What makes you think you can stereotype Norwegian blonde women that way? What does the colour of a woman's hair have to do with her worth as a human being? It is men like you who keep women like me from being respected at work and in the community, and from reaching our full potential as human. It is people like you that make others think that all blondes are dumb. You and your kind continue to perpetuate discrimination against not only blondes but women in general, pathetically all in the name of humour!'
The embarrassed ventriloquist begins to apologize, and the blonde interrupts yelling, 'You stay out of this. I'm talking to that little shit on your lap!'

As usual, we remind you to take your Memo Plus Gold daily. It will help to keep you alert and mentally sharp. For more information or to order for Memo Plus Gold, please visit : https://oze.my.

.Improving the electoral system through fixed-term elections

 

From Khairul Syakirin Zulkifli

One of the most important reforms critical for short-term implementation in our electoral and regulatory systems is to set a fixed-term election.

A fixed-term election, particularly the general election (GE), must occur on a specific date and cannot be modified except under constitutional provisions.

In the Federal Constitution, Article 55 (dissolution of Parliament within five years unless the Yang di-Pertuan Agong allows a snap election) and Article 43(4) (early dissolution of Parliament is permitted if the prime minister loses confidence) pertain to the holding of a GE.

Another relevant provision is Article 40(2)(b), which states that the king can act at his discretion to withhold consent to a request for the dissolution of Parliament.

Current discourse on fixed-term elections is also debated partly under the Fixed-Term Parliament Act (FTPA), which is now being reviewed by the Prime Minister’s Department (law and institutional reform) to block any change in the existing government until the next GE, albeit with mixed reactions.

The key to dissolving Parliament remains in the hands of the prime minister. This incumbency advantage allows the ruling government to control the timing of the election period vis-à-vis the probability of winning the election.

Despite various efforts from some sides to push for fixed-term elections to be implemented by the Election Commission (EC), the public has yet to receive any convincing updates. A fixed-term election should be one of the short-term reforms to level the playing field as it does not require large structural changes in the EC and other government institutions.

It would address many problems faced by the EC, government institutions, voters, and political parties. A surprise election date would put considerable financial stress on the EC in holding the election. It cost RM725 million to hold GE15 and RM420 million to organise the six state elections last year.

The current system is highly disadvantageous to EC staff, especially part-timers. They struggle to learn about rules and matters pertaining to election conduct due to insufficient time, especially in dealing with counting agents and representatives of all political parties. It is also difficult for EC staff to plan their schedules ahead.

Voters would benefit greatly from this reform, and one significant advantage is that it will enhance the normative reality for voters, making it easier for them to vote and fulfil their national responsibility.

It is estimated that more than 400,000 voters would have to return to their hometowns to vote, and they would have to endure hours of travelling just to vote.

Voters who need to return to their hometowns may face significant traffic congestion, and employers and employees might struggle to adjust their work schedule, making it challenging to plan leave applications.

A surprise announcement of the election date can negatively impact voters’ lives. It can disrupt university, vocational, and school schedules and may force families to postpone vacations. Sabahans and Sarawakians, who already face high flight costs (though these issues could be addressed through advance voting, special voting arrangements, or changes in the national registration address policy), would benefit from having more time to make the necessary plans.

Sudden announcements might discourage voter participation, leading to low turnout as seen in Sabah, Sarawak, and Kelantan during GE15. Overseas voters are also affected as they might find it difficult to secure runners or NGOs to deliver their votes to the polling centres.

A fixed election date would simplify budgeting, documentation, and logistical planning for small parties and independent candidates. Establishing election centres, procuring vehicles and equipment, and training party workers are challenging and costly, which tend to favour larger, well-funded parties.

A fixed date would provide parties with adequate time to select candidates, develop strategies, and draft manifestos. It would also help reduce economic uncertainty for businesses, allowing them more time to plan and monitor political activities.

Globally, many countries use fixed-term elections or maximum term lengths. For instance, the US, South Korea, and Norway use fixed-term elections. South Korea, for example, has already set a provisional date for its next election.

The UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Denmark use maximum term lengths, though election timing is often determined by the prime minister. In 2023, New Zealand announced its election date eight months in advance.

As Malaysia practices parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy, any reform must include securing approval from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, based on the prime minister’s advice as outlined in the Federal Constitution.

Adopting a fixed-term election system requires careful consideration of the FTPA and the pros and cons of various global practices.

While several critical reforms are needed to improve Malaysia’s electoral system, a fixed-term election could serve as a short-term solution to address public dissatisfaction with election timing, level the playing field, and demonstrate the government’s commitment to ensuring a fair election process. - FMT

Khairul Syakirin Zulkifli is a research analyst at Institut Masa Depan Malaysia.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.